Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2008 Reference No: 116520 Case No: M441’408 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “78490” Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Simons Jewelers, USA dated 29th August 2008, instruction manual, product literature, hang tags, cloth, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Debuting in 1963, the Rolex Daytona has evolved into one of the most revered and coveted chronographs in horology. After decades of refinements, the year 2000 marked a milestone - the release of the new six-digit reference Daytona, powered by Rolex's first in-house chronograph movement, the self-winding cal. 4130.
Crafted in stainless steel, this modern Daytona embodied over 16 years of continuous production. It features a 400-unit bezel and three-link "Easylink" bracelet, along with the model's signature contrasting registers with silver peripheral rings. The familiar cherry-red "Daytona" designation and 5-liner graphic layout printed below the coronet cement its identity.
This well-preserved “M” serial ref. 116520 from circa 2008 has a clean white dial with all its original factory stickers intact.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.